Bay council members take oath of office

by WBV Observer Staff

Rocky River Municipal Court Judge Brian Hagan administers the oath of office to Council President Paul Koomar as his wife Therese, and daughters, Jennie and Katie look on.

Following the longstanding tradition of installing council members on the first day of their terms, Bay Village held an inauguration ceremony at Dwyer Memorial Center to administer the oath of office for reelected and newly elected members of City Council on Jan. 1. Bay Village is unique in that the elected officials are sworn in on the day that their terms begin, rather than waiting for a business day or a scheduled council meeting.

Taking the oath for the first time were Ward 2 Councilman Clete Miller and Ward 3 Councilwoman Karen Lieske. Former Ward 2 Councilman Paul Koomar was installed as the new council president, while Dave Tadych, Scott Pohlkamp and Michael Young renewed their oaths of office after running unopposed in last November's election. Pohlkamp switched to an at-large seat this term after previously representing Ward 3.

Brian Cruse, who served on council for ten years and is the retiring council president, mingling wit and praise as he addressed the council members. "I get to be a resident again, I get to call them and complain about garbage pickup and street repair, and boy, am I looking forward to that."

Turning to the audience, he continued, "But, these are the people in our community that have stood up and said 'I am willing to stick my neck out, I am willing to do the dirty work, the grunt work, to make Bay Village work.' And, I will tell you as a resident, I am going to sleep very comfortably at night knowing that these people are taking responsibility and making decisions on my behalf, and making Bay Village the great place that we all know that it is.

"Rest assured that your city council is going to be much better off than it was 24 hours ago, and it really is true. These are tremendous people that work very, very, very hard and take the job very seriously." In closing, Cruse offered a final comment for the council members: "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for what you do and best of luck in the years to come... and I have all your phone numbers."